Question
Where did G-d get the earth from which He made Adam?
Answer
The Talmud has two views about the source of the earth from which Adam was made: (1) It was taken from many places (Sanhedrin 38a-b), probably so no place could claim priority. (2) It was taken from the place where the altar would later stand (i.e., Jerusalem; Palestinian Talmud, Nazir 56b).